MINNEAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor brushed off recent social media commentary from his wife regarding swirling trade speculation, maintaining his focus on football as the NFL’s looming trade deadline approaches.
Speaking after a 16-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings that dropped the Colts’ record to 2-5, Taylor addressed videos posted on TikTok by his wife, Ayanna Taylor, over the weekend. The posts discussed the possibility of a trade and questioned the direction of the franchise following a difficult stretch.
“I think it’s been out there already, so I think her adding to it doesn’t really change anything,” Taylor said. The star running back logged 18 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown in Minnesota, extending his franchise record with the 77th rushing score of his career on a 38-yard run. “You know everybody’s on TikTok these days. So, you just have to come into work and stay focused.”
In her social media posts, Ayanna Taylor highlighted the uncertainty facing the family as the Nov. 10 trade deadline nears. She pointed to co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s decision to fire general manager Chris Ballard last week as a major turning point for the team and her husband’s tenure in Indianapolis.
Ballard drafted Taylor in the second round in 2020, a move that yielded one of the league’s most productive running backs. However, Ayanna Taylor noted that a high-profile transaction orchestrated by Ballard last season — trading 2026 and 2027 first-round draft picks along with wide receiver AD Mitchell to the New York Jets for star cornerback Sauce Gardner during a 7-2 start — severely depleted the team’s future assets.
Since that trade, the Colts have struggled to a 3-12 record. Quarterback Daniel Jones regressed following a Pro Bowl campaign last year that was cut short by a fractured left fibula and ruptured right Achilles tendon, while Gardner has missed multiple games over the past two seasons due to left calf strains.
Following a home loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans, Ballard was dismissed, drawing partial accountability from both Jones and Gardner.
Unlike several other high-profile trade candidates on the roster, such as defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and left guard Quenton Nelson who are playing on expiring deals, Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million contract extension in August. His contract ties him to Indianapolis through the 2028 season, positioning him as a valuable multi-year asset rather than a simple rental for prospective acquiring teams.
“Do they keep him as a contender moving forward in the future? Or do they just trade him and cut their losses for as much assets and value as they can?” Ayanna Taylor said in her video, inviting followers to track the unfolding situation.
While Jonathan Taylor previously stated he has not given the speculation much thought, the looming deadline continues to generate heavy external discussion as the Colts attempt to navigate the remainder of their season.
